Research and Evaluation Specialist

Chicago, IL

Full Time

Research & Policy

Experienced

Summary of Position: Reporting to the Manager of Research and Evaluation, the Research & Evaluation Specialist will be primarily responsible for designing and implementing various research and evaluation projects on the Research & Evaluation team at After School Matters. The position will conduct both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, creating reports, data visualizations, and presentations that facilitate decision-making at all levels of the organization.

This is a full-time position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Analyze Data and Communicate Insights - Compile, clean, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to create data visualizations, reports, executive summaries, and support data sharing with current and potential funders; Present key insights and recommendations that are clear and actionable for a variety of stakeholders.
Support Coordination and Management of Research and Evaluation Projects - Help to develop and implement research and evaluation initiatives grounded in best practices, including designing surveys, focus group protocols, and program observations, coordinating data collection, and conducting literature reviews to inform program strategy and design.
Support Organization’s Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) - Process Help manage up to 15 contracted employees annually by tracking deliverables, creating training materials, and processing invoices; serve as a certified Youth Program Quality (YPQ) external assessor for program observations.
Build Organizational Capacity Through Technical Assistance and Training - Provide guidance and training to staff and other stakeholders on effective data collection, management, and evaluation practices; support the creation of tools and resources to build internal capacity for data-driven decision-making and continuous quality improvement.
Contribute to Strategic Planning, Learning, and Cross-Departmental Collaboration - Collaborate with Programs team to assess special initiatives; represent the Research & Evaluation team in meetings, both internally and externally; contribute to the development of a multi-year research agenda that aligns with organizational priorities.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Manage the work of and provide coaching/support to Research and Policy Graduate Fellow(s).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Research and Analytical Expertise: Experience supporting quantitative and qualitative research or evaluation projects, including data collection, management, analysis, visualization, and synthesis.
Subject Matter Knowledge: Strong understanding of youth development, youth employment, education, afterschool programs, and/or systemic barriers facing youth, with the ability to synthesize insights from research literature.
Statistical/Visualization Proficiency: Proficient in statistical concepts and software such as SPSS, STATA, R, SAS, and/or NVIVO; Experience using data visualization tools like Power BI, Tableau, and/or ArcGIS strongly preferred.
Communication and Collaboration Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to work both independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in team-based environments.
Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to shifting demands, and resolve issues in a timely and effective manner.
Attention to Detail and Quality: Highly detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy, quality, and integrity in all aspects of work.
Other preferred knowledge/skills include bilingual (English and Spanish) language skills; experience with Cityspan; experience with Youth Program Quality (YPQI) Intervention.

Required Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Public Policy, Public Service/Administration, Education, Social Work) preferred, or Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of additional experience required
Minimum of 2 years’ experience in research, evaluation, or analytical role. Experience in applied research or program setting strongly preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Cook County residency required; Chicago residency preferred.

Schedule:

9 – 5 hybrid work schedule with 2-3 days in office, based at our Gallery 37 location.
Occasional evening and weekend availability required.
Ability to travel to ASM sites as needed

Benefits for full-time regular employees include:

Medical, Dental, and Vision
Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
403B Retirement Plan
Identity Theft, Legal, and Pet Insurance
Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Sick Time and paid national holidays

Compensation: $60,000, depending on applicable experience and education

About Us: After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond.

ASM has engaged more than 400,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens.

ASM offers paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including three ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park. Currently, After School Matters’ annual operating budget is approximately $35M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization.

EEO: After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.

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